Teaching - Science

Overview

Key facts

In the MAT, we expand our knowledge and impact, and continue to support teachers’ needs to integrate practice with theory as well as to experience today’s culturally diverse and technology-enhanced classrooms. The MAT provides an outstanding teacher preparation program at a reasonable cost.

Our Master of Arts in Teaching - Science at North Carolina State University prepares science teachers for grades 9-12 by building off a candidate’s strong background in the laboratory sciences. Coursework and field experiences focus on developing strong pedagogical content knowledge as it relates specifically to teaching high school science.

Our program is strong in the use of technology as candidates develop expertise with hand-held and computer-based technologies used for learning and teaching science. Candidates are expected to engage as scholars to synthesize research literature on learning and teaching science and use scientific inquiry methods in their planning, instruction and assessment of students.

In North Carolina, science teachers are licensed comprehensively, meaning that any licensed science teacher can teach any science course a school offers. In practice, teachers generally specialize in the life sciences or chemistry, or the physical sciences or earth/environmental sciences, but preparation for a license includes significant experiences in multiple fields of science. Having a broad-based knowledge of the sciences also give the teacher the opportunity to see and share with students the natural interdependency of the sciences.

The semester after you have completed a minimum of 15 hours you must complete the following to continue in the program:

• Keep a minimum average of 3.0 in all course work.
• Criminal Background Check